I'm not sure about you, but the threat of a 4/3 randomly hasting into play is more than enough reason to run this card. If the meta pans out the way I think it will after lor/sha cycle out this card is going to be extremely important.
Right now I don't think it will see a lot of play, but it will soon...trust me.
Basically a Dragger with some added bite. Dragger's already an extremely high pick, and this guy is so much better in aggro decks, he should get picked highly. Three toughness is a liability, but four power takes down almost anything, and he gets to come back on the cheap, which is hugely relevant.
MTGS stats (won/played)
As scum - 3/5
As town - 5/7
As neutral - none
(I really have been scum a lot)
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i love this, huge threat cant be shocked if blocked it will sneak back up on your opponent later, surprise- if you cant play something on a turn you can haste this badboy with your force and possibly get in some damage when needed later gamee
Nothing that specifically preys on 3 toughness can stop you from Unearthing it.
It's definitely different from Gouger... It's certainly worse than Gouger was before Shards had come out, when people weren't playing Condemn/Unmake/Oblivion Ring.
It's worse against Fairies, true.
This card was made for blightning beatdown, but actually, it will not be used in it. Here's why:
Obviously, this card's main competition is Ashemoor Gouger. Right of the bat, the Gouger's better because of the all-important 4 toughness, even if it is a little harder to cast. So the argument is: Unearth vs. 4 toughness. In a realistic game situation, which would you rather have? Assuming a lot of people play Incinerate or Nameless Inversion (which is true), I want the 4 toughness. Making the opponent have a dead card in his or her hand is important, and Gouger will do this more often. Besides, if Shambling Remains DOES get Inversioned/Incinerated, you have to spend your next turn Unearthing it. You'd probably still hit for 4, but is it worth a turn? I don't think so. In my opinion, Ashemoor Gouger barely beats out Shambling Remains.
But if they're both good, why not run both? Because Blightning Beatdown's curve is already high at 3. If you're playing Gouger, maybe Ram-Gang, want to pump Figure of Destiny, and obviously Blightning, you're going to have too many options at turn 3. So sadly, I don't think this guy will see any play. Remember, just because it's a new and shiny version of an existing card doesn't mean it's better.
This card was made for blightning beatdown, but actually, it will not be used in it. Here's why:
Obviously, this card's main competition is Ashemoor Gouger. Right of the bat, the Gouger's better because of the all-important 4 toughness, even if it is a little harder to cast. So the argument is: Unearth vs. 4 toughness. In a realistic game situation, which would you rather have? Assuming a lot of people play Incinerate or Nameless Inversion (which is true), I want the 4 toughness. Making the opponent have a dead card in his or her hand is important, and Gouger will do this more often. Besides, if Shambling Remains DOES get Inversioned/Incinerated, you have to spend your next turn Unearthing it. You'd probably still hit for 4, but is it worth a turn? I don't think so. In my opinion, Ashemoor Gouger barely beats out Shambling Remains.
But if they're both good, why not run both? Because Blightning Beatdown's curve is already high at 3. If you're playing Gouger, maybe Ram-Gang, want to pump Figure of Destiny, and obviously Blightning, you're going to have too many options at turn 3. So sadly, I don't think this guy will see any play. Remember, just because it's a new and shiny version of an existing card doesn't mean it's better.
Q.F.T.
I think it's very apparent this guy is worse than Gouger at the moment. It's not even really a contest. I look at this guy as a Shards-flavored Gouger that will probably see play post-rotation. It's a smart thing to do and I like when Wizards does it: take a simple, well-designed card and tweak it a tad and see what it does later when there's no longer a competition between the two.
This card was made for blightning beatdown, but actually, it will not be used in it. Here's why:
Obviously, this card's main competition is Ashemoor Gouger. Right of the bat, the Gouger's better because of the all-important 4 toughness, even if it is a little harder to cast. So the argument is: Unearth vs. 4 toughness. In a realistic game situation, which would you rather have? Assuming a lot of people play Incinerate or Nameless Inversion (which is true), I want the 4 toughness. Making the opponent have a dead card in his or her hand is important, and Gouger will do this more often. Besides, if Shambling Remains DOES get Inversioned/Incinerated, you have to spend your next turn Unearthing it. You'd probably still hit for 4, but is it worth a turn? I don't think so. In my opinion, Ashemoor Gouger barely beats out Shambling Remains.
But if they're both good, why not run both? Because Blightning Beatdown's curve is already high at 3. If you're playing Gouger, maybe Ram-Gang, want to pump Figure of Destiny, and obviously Blightning, you're going to have too many options at turn 3. So sadly, I don't think this guy will see any play. Remember, just because it's a new and shiny version of an existing card doesn't mean it's better.
you nailed it. Why have something that dies easier and can come back once maybe as a surprise a couple turns down the road, when you can have a guy that didn't die to that removal and continues to bash in for 4 every turn. unearth is irrelevant when you have a creature that probably isn't going to die anyway.
you nailed it. Why have something that dies easier and can come back once maybe as a surprise a couple turns down the road, when you can have a guy that didn't die to that removal and continues to bash in for 4 every turn. unearth is irrelevant when you have a creature that probably isn't going to die anyway.
Not to mention if he's a "surprise," your opponent blows.
I´ve always liked aggressive undercosted creatures with the minor drawback of being not able to block. Unearth is what makes him powerful. I´ll play him for sure.
I agree. Also I'm thinking more about block. Still I think if they burn removal on him that's fine for a deck looking for a good damage/card ratio.
This card is tottally based on meta if all removal is based on things like bant charms, wrath of god, terror etc..
This guy is by far the better card sure if Incinerate and other 3 damage or 3 toughness spells are extremely abundant then yes this guy is weaker then gouger.
So knowledge of the metagame is huge with this type of card.
Pretty amazing that we are debating the constructed feasibility of a 4/3 for 3 mana that can come back from the dead for a last hurrah. Power creep is a rather subtle thing, but this is real evidence of it.
Also, R_E, i'm not disagreeing with you, it just saddens me that such an efficient creature is being so easily dismissed... and moreso because it's being dismissed with good reason.
I hear you. Out of curiosity, I did a gatherer search for creatures with the text "can't block". 3 artifact creatures, and like 20 red and 20 black. Nothing else at all. "Can't block" has to be one of the most solidly defined drawbacks, in terms of the pie. Wow.
If you make 1RB monocoloured, I think you get 3B or 3R, roughly. That cost gets you the completely unplayable Ogre Taskmaster. I suppose the unearth cost could make this (rumoured) card playable, but I don't really like unearth myself, and I'd need to test it to know. Judging by the reaction in this thread (almost no posts after several days), people aren't impressed.
Judging by the reaction in this thread (almost no posts after several days), people aren't impressed.
Honestly, I thought it was because it's so obviously good (in a spike way, not a timmy way), that people didn't bother discussing it.
Also, just like Hellspark (which is AWESOME), this guy's Unearth ability is HUGE for aggressive, burn based RB aggro decks. (Blightning, w/e) You clear the way, wait for an opening, and pay RB for a Flame Javelin.
Great card, and RB is looking strong in standard and block.
Right now I don't think it will see a lot of play, but it will soon...trust me.
Yes.
In this thread, in fact.
MTGS stats (won/played)
As scum - 3/5
As town - 5/7
As neutral - none
(I really have been scum a lot)
I'm now writing for Eye of the Vortex, come check out MTG articles and other geek culture
I also moderate the MTG forum, so register (it's free) and voice your thoughts.
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BGSkullbriarBG
GWURafiqGWU
WUBSharuumWUB
UBRMishraUBR
RRRRDWRRR
RGWerewolvesRG
BBBMonoblack ControlBBB
WWWHumansWWW
UBHeartless DemonsUB
RWUSunforgerRWU
UWLuminarch Ascension ControlUW
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It's actually great with blighting.
It's definitely different from Gouger... It's certainly worse than Gouger was before Shards had come out, when people weren't playing Condemn/Unmake/Oblivion Ring.
It's worse against Fairies, true.
Obviously, this card's main competition is Ashemoor Gouger. Right of the bat, the Gouger's better because of the all-important 4 toughness, even if it is a little harder to cast. So the argument is: Unearth vs. 4 toughness. In a realistic game situation, which would you rather have? Assuming a lot of people play Incinerate or Nameless Inversion (which is true), I want the 4 toughness. Making the opponent have a dead card in his or her hand is important, and Gouger will do this more often. Besides, if Shambling Remains DOES get Inversioned/Incinerated, you have to spend your next turn Unearthing it. You'd probably still hit for 4, but is it worth a turn? I don't think so. In my opinion, Ashemoor Gouger barely beats out Shambling Remains.
But if they're both good, why not run both? Because Blightning Beatdown's curve is already high at 3. If you're playing Gouger, maybe Ram-Gang, want to pump Figure of Destiny, and obviously Blightning, you're going to have too many options at turn 3. So sadly, I don't think this guy will see any play. Remember, just because it's a new and shiny version of an existing card doesn't mean it's better.
Akuma will wreck you.
Q.F.T.
I think it's very apparent this guy is worse than Gouger at the moment. It's not even really a contest. I look at this guy as a Shards-flavored Gouger that will probably see play post-rotation. It's a smart thing to do and I like when Wizards does it: take a simple, well-designed card and tweak it a tad and see what it does later when there's no longer a competition between the two.
you nailed it. Why have something that dies easier and can come back once maybe as a surprise a couple turns down the road, when you can have a guy that didn't die to that removal and continues to bash in for 4 every turn. unearth is irrelevant when you have a creature that probably isn't going to die anyway.
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Not to mention if he's a "surprise," your opponent blows.
I agree. Also I'm thinking more about block. Still I think if they burn removal on him that's fine for a deck looking for a good damage/card ratio.
This guy is by far the better card sure if Incinerate and other 3 damage or 3 toughness spells are extremely abundant then yes this guy is weaker then gouger.
So knowledge of the metagame is huge with this type of card.
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I hear you. Out of curiosity, I did a gatherer search for creatures with the text "can't block". 3 artifact creatures, and like 20 red and 20 black. Nothing else at all. "Can't block" has to be one of the most solidly defined drawbacks, in terms of the pie. Wow.
If you make 1RB monocoloured, I think you get 3B or 3R, roughly. That cost gets you the completely unplayable Ogre Taskmaster. I suppose the unearth cost could make this (rumoured) card playable, but I don't really like unearth myself, and I'd need to test it to know. Judging by the reaction in this thread (almost no posts after several days), people aren't impressed.
.
1. Baneslayer Angel 2. Birds of Paradise 3. Lightning Bolt 4. Honor of the Pure 5. Goblin Chieftain
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makes me want to build R/B Zombie Sligh sporting death baron, viscera dragger zombie outlander etc.
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Honestly, I thought it was because it's so obviously good (in a spike way, not a timmy way), that people didn't bother discussing it.
Also, just like Hellspark (which is AWESOME), this guy's Unearth ability is HUGE for aggressive, burn based RB aggro decks. (Blightning, w/e) You clear the way, wait for an opening, and pay RB for a Flame Javelin.
Great card, and RB is looking strong in standard and block.
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